The Canaries 10-match surge ended at the Hawthorns, but City now welcome Chelsea and then Manchester City to Carrow Road over Christmas a reassuring 10 points clear of the current bottom three.

“Yes, it is about how we react. To have been on such a long unbeaten run in this division is a testament to a group of lads that have seen us right in every game, as we were today. It is just those defining moments, but you have to put that behind you.

“At some stage we were going to lose and at some stage that run was going to come to an end and it always has to be about the next game. We’ve got two very tough games coming up but at the moment is just about that next one.”

Hughton was upbeat about the chances of Grant Holt’s hamstring injury absence being limited to just one game on the sidelines with the City boss confirming his skipper had been ‘touch and go’ for the trip to the Midlands.

Holt will continue to be assessed over the next few days, but Steven Whittaker is a fresh injury concern after his second half exit with a flare up of the hip problem that saw him miss the Capital One Cup defeat to Aston Villa.

“Yes he just felt his hip and it was just enough to have to make the change so we will see how that settles down,” said Hughton.

“It’s been grumbling for a little while so we will have to see how that goes. Possibly he will have to sit out a bit to get it sorted but we will always make that decision on the feedback from our medical department.

“With Grant I was touch and go for this game and it was the right decision for him not to play, absolutely. We’ve got a lot of games coming up and we need to make sure he is right and ready but we are very hopeful that he will be available for the next game.”

Keeper Declan Rudd missed out at the weekend with Hughton confirming he was ill on Friday night,

I can`t even be certain of being allowed to mention Gryme`s D*k* in the same sentence as Fingringh*e, Wiv. I suppose Southampton only gets thro` `cos the pooter`s not programmed for rhyming slang. Notts County is an anagram of O, Sno**y C***. Did that for a pal who`s a Forest Fan!

What you want is D**k van D**e, playing for A*****l, against Sc*******e, with comments from A****e Wenger, Stefan K***z etc. It realls is a dozy and lazy system for picking up abusive words. Come on Arch-ant new year new software !